The government says it will implement a new comprehensive agriculture support programme commencing in the 2022/2023 farming season as the Farmer Input Support Programme has presented challenges.
The programme to be implemented will be cost effective, better targeted and equitable across beneficiaries.
Speaking when he delivered the 2022 National Budget in Parliament today, Minister of Finance Situmbeko Musokotwane announced that the programme will also support the supply of quality inputs, attain diversification of crops as well as increase production and productivity.
He said government will promote large scale estate production for both domestic and export markets as they will employ many people at different levels of skills, create associated business opportunities, support agro industry among others.
Dr. Musokotwane also said government will promote the establishment of large-scale agricultural estates across the country that will produce and process agricultural products that are suitable in the respective areas.
“The vehicles for doing so will be farm blocks. Government will provide the necessary infrastructure for farm blocks to be operational,” he said.
Meanwhile, the minister announced that government will recruit more extension officers to enhance provision of services to livestock farmers across the country.
He stated that livestock farmers will be trained in open grazing management practices while animal disease prevention and control programmes will continue.
The minister stated that government is also investing in a liquid nitrogen plant that will support increased use of artificial insemination in an effort to increase production and productivity in the sub-sector.
“In line with the new dawn administration agenda of alleviating poverty, we will empower youth and female headed households through livestock stocking and re-stocking as well as support for livestock infrastructure,” he said.
Dr. Musokotwane added that government will establish additional hatcheries and completion of other infrastructure such as aquaculture parks to support the fisheries sub sector.
He said the investments are expected to increase fish production under aquaculture to 61,000 metric tonnes in 2022.
What’s worrying is the failure to manage the maize bumper harvest
The small scale farmers development agency call for consultations on agriculture SECTOR
There are anumber of factors to consider if the new approach to agriculture development and growth is to be attained otherwise the challenges faced under FISP can reoccure under on the new program
The big problem we face in zambia is that planners and technocrats do not consult well hence create a big gap between planners technocrats and non governmental organisation and other stakeholders such as SAFADA
When the term NOT COST EFFECTIVE to me as a layman this means the price is too low compared to the production cost. Again as a layman this means that next farming season the small farmer will have to pay more for the inputs. Again as layman I ask what will this mean when it comes to selling the product… will the farmer determine the price?
Bane me let me go back to drinking coffee , my future is bright already when I heard abt CDF yesterday. Ah! What a time to be Zambian.
VERY Positive assessment from MAGANDE , which is a good indication that the budget is great, better than what could have been presented by PF.
Acknowleged the decentralization……and congratulated Musokotwane for this budget.
Where are those PF who were filling space on LT saying Musokotwane was a recycled politician who will be implementing MMD plan? This is NOT MMD budget, but its full of HH vision for transforming the Zambian Economy .
Let’s all support HH and his GRZ without political affiliation, and ensure this budget brings the planned benefits.
@Ayatollah
You and your failed PF have been cheating yourselves over the so called “bumper harvests” over the years.
According WFP and SADC statistics , Zambia has only managed a self sufficiency in terms of maize production and grain stocks.
Its only South Africa that has been producing real maize stock surpluses.
Zambia 106%(meaning only 6% surplus maize)
South Africa 144%( 44% surplus)
Some Neighboring countries
DRC 8% (92% deficit)
Namibia 23%(77% deficit)
Tanzania 113%(13% surplus)
Zimbabwe 46%(54% deficit)
So Zambia still needs to grow more maize to talk about any meaningful bumper harvest. At least 30% surplus.
#6 Independent. Are sure you of what you are saying. We all would like this budget to work but facts cannot be twisted. Let’s not twist the truth… Zambia has done fairly well in maize production and that’s why there’s smuggling of the commodity by our neighbors. You may hate someone, they may do something wrong but when he does something good, we have to acknowledge it.
DURING PF THIS WASNT GETTING TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE
ALSO THE RECIRICANTS WERE SELLING HALF OFF AT 50% FOR READY CASH
YES IT FAILED ALSO CADRES WERE GETTING HUGE QUANTITIES
WE DO NEED A BETTER WAY AS INTEGRITY IS IN PLAY NOW
In fact the farmers should be weaned off this fisp and abolished altogether. It has never worked for the intended beneficiaries who have instead purchased their inputs on the open market and still managed to produce enough crops.
#9 Razor give statistical Data of maize production FISP recipient vs NONE RECIPIENT. The only problem I have seen is that the farmer to realize some thing resembling profit has to sell the produce at an economical price. The cost of production is too high even though we get the inputs at what I call a rediclously low price.